”The Golden Age of Fantasy is Twelve: SF and the Young Adult Novel,” published by Strange Horizons.

Note: This article reveals the endings of Meredith Ann Pierce’s The Darkangel, Diana Wynne Jones’ The Homeward Bounders, and Ursula K. Le Guin’s Tehanu, and reveals an important plot point from C. J. Cherryh’s Rider at the Gates. Do not read it unless you’re already familiar with those books, or be prepared to skip those sections. This goes double for The Homeward Bounders.

“Elven Blades and Zero-G Ki: The Evolution of Martial Arts in SF and Fantasy,” published by Strange Horizons.

This article was reprinted in The Best of Strange Horizons, Year Two, edited by Kelli Carlson.

Note: This article reveals important plot points (but not the endings) from George R. R. Martin’s A Game of Thrones, Walter Jon Williams’ Aristoi, Ellen Kushner’s Swordspoint, and C. J. Cherryh’s The Paladin. If you haven’t read those books yet and are sensitive to spoilers, exercise caution while reading the essay.